(NaturalNews) Curcumin's anti-inflammatory properties have been known in Chinese and Ayurvedic Medicines for thousands of years. It is the active ingredient of turmeric, which is a component of the curry preparations used daily in Indian and other South Asian cuisines. Since those cuisines have infiltrated the west, modern science has also been investigating the health benefits of turmeric and curcumin.

Curcumin/Turmeric Health Benefits

Don't confuse curry powder with turmeric. Turmeric is the substance that gives curry its yellowish color, while curcumin is the active ingredient of turmeric that offers the health benefits known in earlier medical traditions and that is being discovered now in western nutritional medicine. Curcumin comprises five percent of turmeric.

Curcumin is both an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant. Epidemiological studies of people who have a high dietary intake of turmeric show a lower incidence of cancer among them.

Dr. Russell Blaylock included curcumin extract supplements in his post vaccination first aid kit to minimize the possibility of inflammation and cytokine storm from a vaccination. Curcumin has proven even better for relieving arthritis pains and stiffness than expensive pharmaceuticals, without side effects. It has also been proven to protect the liver and gallbladder.

Many other tests with curcumin extracts have been documented with in vitro (petri dish/test tube) and in vivo (living organisms) trials that show how amyloid plaque, considered a cause of Alzheimer's, is suppressed by curcumin. There have also been many trials, mostly in vitro, that indicate curcumin helps impede cancer cells' growth.

Curcumin extracts have been used as an adjunct with orthodox cancer treatments to reduce dosages of toxic cancer drugs.

Curcumin is considered non-toxic. Up to six grams of curcumin daily for extreme cases, such as cancer, has shown no toxic side effects. Since only five percent of turmeric is curcumin, this allows for consuming a good deal of turmeric.

How to Take Curcumin

Curcumin as part of turmeric powder is very beneficial as a daily regimen if taken properly. The problem with curcumin is similar to that of resveratrol: The stomach won't let it pass through to the small intestines enough to appear significantly in blood serum, where it has to be for cellular nourishment.

That's easily resolved with turmeric by combining it with fats. Cold pressed oils, coconut oil, organic butter, ghee, raw milk, and organic cottage cheese are optimum choices. It has also been discovered that heat helps absorption without decomposing the curcumin in turmeric. Some users mix turmeric in warm milk. After all, curry involves cooking with some sort of fat.

The curcumin extract capsules, used for extreme conditions or by those who can afford the convenience, pose the same absorption problems with a different set of solutions. This extract is usually in capsules. Enteric coating needs to be used to keep the capsule intact in the stomach yet to allow it to break down in the small intestines, allowing for immediate absorption into the blood.

Enteric coatings are used commonly by Big Pharma, but not by natural supplement providers. So you need to look for that on the label or you're wasting your money and time.

Some curcumin extract providers insert piperine, an extract of black pepper, to help absorb the curcumin. But curcumin supplements using piperine can cause problems with pharmaceutical medications. So if you are on pharmaceuticals, avoid curcumin extracts with piperine.

Unless your situation warrants higher supplementation, consuming turmeric at one to three teaspoons full per day with fats to get the curcumin into your bloodstream provides an inexpensive, safe,* and efficacious anti-inflammatory, anti-aging boost to your health.

*Those afflicted with hepatitis or gallbladder stones need to use caution.

(NaturalNews) Natural chemicals found in the spices turmeric and black pepper appear to stop the growth of breast tumors, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center and published in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.

Researchers applied a solution containing both curcumin, found in turmeric, and piperine, which makes black pepper spicy, to breast cancer cells in a laboratory, using concentrations 20 times higher than those found in the human diet. They found that the solution hampered the ability of stem cells to propagate but did not affect the differentiation of normal breast cells.

"This shows that these compounds are not toxic to normal breast tissue," lead author Madhuri Kakarala said.

Cancer stem cells are the cells in tumors that allow it to keep growing without limit. Current chemotherapy treatments are unable to affect stem cells, which is part of the reason that cancers can spread and recur even in those undergoing treatment.

"If we can limit the number of stem cells, we can limit the number of cells with potential to form tumors," Kakarala said.

The researchers found that the piperine appeared to make the curcumin more effective. They also found that the solution affected cancer stem cells regardless of whether the tumors were estrogen-sensitive or not. This is an especially significant finding because the cancer-preventive drugs tamoxifen or raloxifene, which can have highly toxic side effects, do not affect estrogen-independent tumors.

"The concept that dietary compounds can help is attractive, and curcumin and piperine appear to have very low toxicity," Karkala said.

Previous studies have linked a diet high in turmeric to a lower risk of breast, colon, prostate and lung cancers. Black pepper and piperine have both also been shown to suppress the development of colon and lung tumors in animal tests.

Known as Huang Qin Tang, the mix of plant extracts, roots and fruit has been used for hundreds of years to treat stomach upsets and nausea.

But now researchers have found that it not only does the same for patients on chemotherapy, it also increases the effectiveness of the treatment.

The strong drugs used in chemotherapy cause a number of toxic side effects because it kills healthy cells as well as cancerous ones.

This is particularly true in the digestive tract or intestines.

The team from Yale University found that in mice the use of the Huang Qin Tang mixture helped protect the intestine lining and helped it recover more quickly.

It also reduced inflammation and boosted the effectiveness of the chemotherapy to kill tumours.

The formula used in the experiment consists of four herbs – extract of peonies, a pretty purple flower called skullcap, together with liquorice and fruit from a buckthorn tree.

The researchers treated mice with colon and rectal cancer with chemotherapy, which shrank tumours but also caused massive destruction in the intestinal lining of the animals.

After a few days of treatment with PHY906, the medicine restored the damaged intestinal linings in the mice.

The patients lost less weight and saw more cancer cells killed.

"Chemotherapy causes great distress for millions of patients, but PHY-906 has multiple biologically active compounds which can act on multiple sources of discomfort," said Professor Yung-Chi Cheng, lead author of the study published in Science Translational Medicine.

"This combination of chemotherapy and herbs represents a marriage of Western and Eastern approaches to the treatment of cancer.

"We will continue to refine these processes to better study and understand the sophisticated nature of herbal medicines. Revisiting history may lead us to discovering future medicines."

(NaturalNews) Japanese researchers have discovered yet another benefit to fish oil -- treatment for depression. According to a study out of the University of Tokyo, teenage boys who eat a lot of oily fish have a 27 percent reduced risk of depression compared to those who eat little oily fish.

Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids like EPA and DHA offer numerous benefits to both body and brain health, and the new study indicates that these oils may also play a valuable role in preventing and treating depression.

Kentaro Murakami and his colleagues analyzed 6,500 Japanese junior high students between the ages of 12 and 15. Nearly a quarter of boys had initial symptoms of depression and about a third of girls had symptoms. After considering various life factors and dietary practices, the team discovered that the less oily fish boys ate, the more likely they were to have depression symptoms. They did not observe the same benefit in girls.

However several other studies have indicated that fish oil plays an important role in the mental health of both sexes, including a 1999 study in the Archives of General Psychiatry which found that manic-depressive patients who supplement with fish oil experience overall improvements in mental health.

"Fish oil...appears to be very good stuff for the brain and behavior, which makes sense because omega-3 fatty acids have a critical role in brain development and functioning, including promoting the growth of neurons in the frontal cortex. Fish oil has been shown in a series of studies by Andrew Stoll at Harvard to ease the symptoms of bipolar disorder and depression," explains Charles Barber in his book Comfortably Numb: How Psychiatry Is Medicating a Nation.

(NaturalNews) A recent study headed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has identified a link between cinnamon intake and reduced risk of diabetes and heart disease. According to the research, water-soluble cinnamon extract, which is high in antioxidants, helps to decrease glucose levels in the blood as well as reduce oxidative stress in the body.

Richard Anderson, a chemist with the USDA and study lead, and his colleagues evaluated 22 participants who were obese and considered to be "pre-diabetic" based on their cells' interaction with insulin. The team divided the participants into two groups, one of which received a placebo, and another that received 250 milligrams (mg) of dried, water-soluble cinnamon extract twice a day for 12 weeks. Follow-up tests revealed up to a 23 percent increase in antioxidant levels among those taking the cinnamon.

Pre-diabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal, and the cells that would normally accept insulin from the pancreas in order to lower these levels begin to reject it. If not addressed quickly, pre-diabetes can quickly develop into full diabetes.

Based on the study, cinnamon is a viable, natural treatment for maintaining healthy blood glucose levels and preventing the onset of diabetes. Other studies have also shown that cinnamon plays a vital role in maintaining healthy circulation and energy levels in the body.

"Recent studies show that cinnamon stimulates circulation and boosts the ability of insulin to metabolize glucose and carry it into cells for energy production," explain Stephen Sinatra, M.D., and James C. Roberts, M.D., in their book Reverse Heart Disease Now: Stop Deadly Cardiovascular Plaque Before It's Too Late.

(NaturalNews) Leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow. Every year there are 2000-3000 children diagnosed with this cancer in the United States. Leukemia is the most common childhood cancer and is most common in children under the age of 10. But in Asia those statistics look very different. They have a much lower rate of childhood leukemia than western countries. The Loyola University Medical Center has done research to find out why.

Researchers think the link between the lower amount of childhood leukemia in Asia is due to Turmeric. Turmeric is a spice that is commonly used in Asian cooking. Loyola professor Moolky Nagabhushan said in a statement, "Some of the known risk factors that contribute to the high incidence of childhood leukemia are the interaction of many lifestyle and environmental factors. These include prenatal or postnatal exposure to radiation, benzene, environmental pollutants and alkylating chemotherapeutic drugs." Nagabhushan went on to say that his studies showed that the principle coloring agent in turmeric, curcumin, mitigated the effects of some of the risk factors.

Western cultures can get these same effects by cooking with turmeric. You can purchase the spice at your local health food store. You can also get the same benefits by taking turmeric supplements.

A study at the University of California Berkley found that eating certain fruits could lower children's risk of developing leukemia. The study, which was called the Northern California Childhood Leukemia Study, looked at 328 children that had been diagnosed with leukemia between the ages of 2 and 14. They compared their diets to children of the same age, gender, ethnicity and region who did not have leukemia. The study found that children who regularly ate oranges and/or bananas during their first two years of life had a reduced risk of developing childhood leukemia. Oranges are full of vitamin C. Vitamin C is a well known antioxidant and is also known for its anticancer effects. Bananas contain a high amount of potassium. Potassium is a mineral that has also shown to have some anti-cancer benefits.

The research showed that the risk for developing childhood leukemia was 51% lower in the children who ate oranges/bananas regularly. The study also showed that drinking orange juice was also found to be protective. The risk dropped 46% compared with children who rarely or never drank orange juice.

Once again studies show that by feeding our children healthy, balanced diets they will have a reduced risk of cancers and all diseases in general.

(NaturalNews) Using turmeric or salt inhalation with a neti pot and using simple steam inhalation can treat sinus infections.

Sinusitis, also known as rhinosinusitis, is an infection or inflammation of the lining of the sinus cavities in the nose. This condition affects more than 40 million Americans annually. Sinusitis can be caused by colds, flu or allergies. Diseases such as bacterial infections also cause sinusitis, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center. Sinus infections can be painful, leading to headaches and work impairment. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology reports that sinusitis causes a loss of four workdays per year, causing employers to list sinusitis as one of the top ten medical conditions.

Turmeric Reduces Sinus Inflammation

Gargling with turmeric can help heal a sinus infection and reduce chronic sinus inflammation. The active ingredient in turmeric, known as curcumin, helps heal the sinus cavity. The herb turmeric has been used in Indian cuisine, Ayurvedic Indian medicine, and Chinese medicine for thousands of years. The University of California reports that turmeric has an anti-inflammatory action. Further recent research showed that turmeric also has antibiotic and antiviral health effects. The University of Michigan adds that turmeric reduces inflammation by lowering histamine levels. The Brain Research Institute at UCLA reports that the National Institute of Health has funded over eight studies on this herb, further evidence of this plant's efficacy.

Saline Drainage Heals Sinus Inflammation

Irrigating the sinuses with salt helps reduce sinus pressure and sinusitis, suggests the Mayo Clinic. Its site recommends the use of a neti pot to rinse the sinuses. A neti pot is used to pour a salt solution into the nostrils to clear the sinuses of mucous blockage. A cup of warm water with a half teaspoon of salt may be inhaled while holding one nostril closed. This technique of saline inhalation has a long history in Ayurvedic medicine where it has been used for thousands of years.

Steam Inhalation Opens Sinuses and Reduces Sinusitis

Inhaling steam can open the sinuses and reduce sinusitis. This can be accomplished by placing a towel over the head while inhaling from a bowl of hot water. A simpler method is to stand in a hot shower; however, this doesn't direct the steam to the sinuses as specifically as using a towel over a bowl.

Sinus infections can be simply treated by the above methods but if symptoms persist or become severe, consult with your health advisors.

ScienceDaily (Sep. 2, 2010) — Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified the molecular mechanism that makes omega-3 fatty acids so effective in reducing chronic inflammation and insulin resistance.

The discovery could lead to development of a simple dietary remedy for many of the more than 23 million Americans suffering from diabetes and other conditions.

Writing in the advance online edition of the September 3 issue of the journal Cell, Jerrold Olefsky, MD, and colleagues identified a key receptor on macrophages abundantly found in obese body fat. Obesity and diabetes are closely correlated. The scientists say omega-3 fatty acids activate this macrophage receptor, resulting in broad anti-inflammatory effects and improved systemic insulin sensitivity.

Macrophages are specialized white blood cells that engulf and digest cellular debris and pathogens. Part of this immune system response involves the macrophages secreting cytokines and other proteins that cause inflammation, a method for destroying cells and objects perceived to be harmful. Obese fat tissue contains lots of these macrophages producing lots of cytokines. The result can be chronic inflammation and rising insulin resistance in neighboring cells over-exposed to cytokines. Insulin resistance is the physical condition in which the natural hormone insulin becomes less effective at regulating blood sugar levels in the body, leading to myriad and often severe health problems, most notably type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Olefsky and colleagues looked at cellular receptors known to respond to fatty acids. They eventually narrowed their focus to a G-protein receptor called GPR120, one of a family of signaling molecules involved in numerous cellular functions. The GPR120 receptor is found only on pro-inflammatory macrophages in mature fat cells. When the receptor is turned off, the macrophage produces inflammatory effects. But exposed to omega-3 fatty acids, specifically docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), the GPR120 receptor is activated and generates a strong anti-inflammatory effect.

"It's just an incredibly potent effect," said Olefsky, a professor of medicine and associate dean of scientific affairs for the UC San Diego School of Medicine. "The omega-3 fatty acids switch on the receptor, killing the inflammatory response."

The scientists conducted their research using cell cultures and mice, some of the latter genetically modified to lack the GPR120 receptor. All of the mice were fed a high-fat diet with or without omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. The supplementation treatment inhibited inflammation and enhanced insulin sensitivity in ordinary obese mice, but had no effect in GPR120 knockout mice. A chemical agonist of omega-3 fatty acids produced similar results.

"This is nature at work," said Olefsky. "The receptor evolved to respond to a natural product -- omega-3 fatty acids -- so that the inflammatory process can be controlled. Our work shows how fish oils safely do this, and suggests a possible way to treating the serious problems of inflammation in obesity and in conditions like diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease through simple dietary supplementation."

However, Olefsky said more research is required. For example, it remains unclear how much fish oil constitutes a safe, effective dose. High consumption of fish oil has been linked to increased risk of bleeding and stroke in some people.

Should fish oils prove impractical as a therapeutic agent, Olefsky said the identification of the GPR120 receptor means researchers can work toward developing an alternative drug that mimics the actions of DHA and EPA and provides the same anti-inflammatory effects.

ScienceDaily (Feb. 13, 2009) — According to a recent study, diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids protect the liver from damage caused by obesity and the insulin resistance it provokes. This research should give doctors and nutritionists valuable information when recommending and formulating weight-loss diets and help explain why some obese patients are more likely to suffer some complications associated with obesity. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in canola oil and fish.

"Our study shows for the first time that lipids called protectins and resolvins derived from omega-3 fatty acids can actually reduce the instance of liver complications, such as hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance, in obese people," stated Joan Claria, a professor from the University of Barcelona and one of the researchers involved in the work.

The scientists found that two types of lipids in omega-3 fatty acids—protectins and resolvins—were the cause of the protective effect. To reach this conclusion, they studied four groups of mice with an altered gene making them obese and diabetic. One group was given an omega-3-enriched diet and the second group was given a control diet. The third group was given docosahexaenoic acid, and the fourth received only the lipid resolvin. After five weeks, blood serum and liver samples from the test mice were examined. The mice given the omega-3-rich diet exhibited less hepatic inflammation and improved insulin tolerance. This was due to the formation of protectins and resolvins from omega-3 fatty acids.

"Doctors are always looking for simple and easy ways to counter the harmful effects of obesity, and the great thing about this study is that the information can be used at dinner tonight," said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal. "It's not unlikely that eating lots more fish or a simple switch to canola oil will make a difference."

BACKGROUND: New drugs are constantly sought after to improve the survival of patients with malignant gliomas. The ideal substance would selectively target tumor cells without eliciting toxic side effects. Here, we report on the anti-proliferative, anti-migratory, and anti-invasive properties of the natural, nontoxic compound Curcumin observed in five human glioblastoma (GBM) cell lines in vitro.

METHODS: We used monolayer wound healing assays, modified Boyden chamber trans-well assays, and cell growth assays to quantify cell migration, invasion, and proliferation in the absence or presence of Curcumin at various concentrations. Levels of the transcription factor phospho-STAT3, a potential target of Curcumin, were determined by sandwich-ELISA. Subsequent effects on transcription of genes regulating the cell cycle were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. Effects on apoptosis were determined by caspase assays.

RESULTS: Curcumin potently inhibited GBM cell proliferation as well as migration and invasion in all cell lines contingent on dose. Simultaneously, levels of the biologically active phospho-STAT3 were decreased and correlated with reduced transcription of the cell cycle regulating gene c-Myc and proliferation marking Ki-67, pointing to a potential mechanism by which Curcumin slows tumor growth.

CONCLUSIONS: Curcumin is part of the diet of millions of people every day and is without known toxic side effects. Our data show that Curcumin bears anti-proliferative, anti-migratory, and anti-invasive properties against GBM cells in vitro. These results warrant further in vivo analyses and indicate a potential role of Curcumin in the treatment of malignant gliomas.

(NaturalNews) For countless centuries, turmeric has been used not only as a spice but as a healing aid in traditional Asian medicine. For example, historically it has been consumed to help gastrointestinal problems, arthritic pain, and a lack of energy. And in recent years, scientists have documented that tumeric and the natural compound it contains called curcumin may protect and heal due to anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties.

In fact, as NaturalNews previously reported, researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center have found that curcumin, when combined with piperine (a component of black pepper), could play an important role in preventing and even treating breast cancer (http://www.naturalnews.com/027831_t...). Now a new study published in the gastroenterology and hepatology journal Gut suggests curcumin could be a treatment for yet another serious health problem -- liver damage and cirrhosis.

"Chronic cholangiopathies (bile duct diseases) have limited therapeutic options and represent an important indication for liver transplantation. Curcumin, the yellow pigment of the spice turmeric, has pleiotropic (multiple effect) actions and attenuates hepatic damage in animal models of chemically-induced liver injury," the authors of the study, scientists in the division of gastroenterology and heptology at Medical University Graz in Austria, wrote.

So what causes bile duct problems? Genetic predispositions, injury, infections, and drinking alcohol to excess are all possible causes. The reason bile duct diseases are so dangerous -- and sometimes fatal -- is that when the liver's bile ducts swell they can scar and become irreversibly blocked. This causes serious liver damage to develop, leading to fatal cirrhosis.

Bottom line: bile duct diseases are life threatening and mainstream medicine has come up with few ways to help other than liver transplants. However, there's now tantalizing evidence that curcumin may help heal livers naturally.

For their study, the Austrian research team gave curcumin to lab mice who had chemically induced liver injuries. After consuming diets supplemented with curcumin for four to eight weeks, the rodents' liver damage was dramatically lessened. What's more, the addition of the spice component to the animals' food improved a serious liver condition known as sclerosing cholangitis, an autoimmune disorder.

In their paper, the researchers theorized that curcumin has multiple beneficial effects on liver health. For instance, they noted that the spice component blocked signal pathways necessary for inflammation to occur -- and that, in turn, slowed the progress of scarring which leads to reduced bile duct blockage and damage to liver cells.

A common ingredient in curry could help target chemotherapy-resistant cancer cells, scientists have said.

Scientists at the University of Leicester have been using curcumin - an extract of root turmeric, commonly used in curries - to target chemo-resistant cells.

They hope the ingredient will not only improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy but also reduce the number of chemo-resistant cells, helping to prevent the disease returning.

Funded by Hope Against Cancer, researchers at the university's Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine are using tissue from tumours extracted from patients undergoing surgery. The aim is to use curcumin to target chemo-resistant cells in colorectal tumour tissue.

Colorectal cancer accounts for more than 600,000 deaths a year and is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the western world.

Dr Karen Brown, a reader at the university, is the principal investigator of the new research, which is also being led by Dr Lynne Howells, from the university's Chemoprevention and Biomarkers Group.

Dr Brown said: "Following treatment for cancer, small populations of cancer cells often remain which are responsible for disease returning. These cells appear to have different properties to the bulk of cells within a tumour, making them resistant to chemotherapy.

"Previous laboratory research has shown that curcumin, from turmeric, has not only improved the effectiveness of chemotherapy but has also reduced the number of chemo-resistant cells, which has implications in preventing the disease returning."

Turmeric, part of the ginger family, is best known as an orange/yellow powder used as a spice for curries, but has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. Its potential use in Alzheimer's, arthritis and other disorders is also being investigated around the world.

Dr Howells said cash from Hope Against Cancer, which funds research fellowships at the university, had been key to furthering the research. The charity, formally known as the Hope Foundation, was established in 2003 to increase the funds available for cancer research in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Researchers from the Ponce School of Medicine in Puerto Rico, conducted a study which showed taking vitamin and calcium supplements possibly decrease the risk of breast cancer as much as forty percent. Their studies findings were presented at the annual meeting of American Association of Cancer Research.

Lead researcher Jamie Matta, PhD, professor of pharmacology, physiology and toxicology, states that these effects are not immediate. You just cannot take a vitamin today and expect the risk to be decreased by tomorrow. However, they did witness a long term effect in breast cancer reduction.

In this study conducted researchers participants included 457 healthy women and 268 who had breast cancer, all of these women had taken vitamin and mineral supplements for the last five years. All women had answered a questionnaire regarding which vitamins and minerals they had taken, how often they had taken them and if they were still taking them.

Researchers then had taken blood samples from each woman and measured her DNA's ability to heal its-self from the damage.

Matta states that this process involves a minimum of five separate pathways and it is vital for keeping genomic stability. When the DNA does not become fixed it leads to mutation which then leads to cancer.

Researchers had discovered that calcium supplements greatly heightened a woman's DNA restoration range. The calcium supplements had also lessened the risk of breast cancer by forty percent along with vitamin supplements.

Women who had a low DNA fixing capacity, breast cancer in family history and no history of breast feeding all had the possibility to suffer more from breast cancer. When researchers modified for calcium effects on DNA repairing ability, they discovered a very small remaining effect on breast cancer.

This seems to advocate that calcium aides in prevention of cancers by furthering DNA's ability to revive from the damage. The system by which vitamin supplements guarding the body from cancer were not concluded.

Dr. Manuel Bayona, Professor and Interim Director, Public Health Program and co-writer of this study states the value of this discovery they can now oversee breast cancer risk using DNA repair capacity.

The researchers believe that all women should be taking vitamins and supplements. They now can establish if that administration is really working in the reduction of breast cancer.

Dr. Victoria Seewadlt, professor of medicine, oncology, of Duke University remarks the significance of this study is that is concentrating on normal doses, the suggested amounts of vitamins and not high doses.
Professor Matta stressed that by combining vitamins it guards better against the disease but emphasized that further research is still needed.

Vitamins, supplements and herbs

Vitamin D deficiencies have been linked with a heightened risk of around twenty cancers including breast cancer. A study published in the Epidemiology, Bio-markers and Prevention have shown a decrease risk of breast cancer with vitamin D.

Multivitamins and calcium supplements may also aide in the prevention of breast cancer.

Garlic or garlic supplements not only boosts the immune system but the allyl sulfur compounds have been reported to aide the body in riding the cancer causing chemicals and possibly can reduce cell growth.
Seaweed contains nutrients which aide the body in regeneration due to the organic iodine can be absorbed at faster rates. It aides in the fight against asthma, diabetes, fibromylagia and cancer. Some manufactures suggest three capsules each day.

Green tea has shown in research that in countries such as Japan, where it is drank on a regular basis, the populace seems to have lower cancer rates. Experts do believe that three cups of green tea each day can aide in the prevention of breast cancer by as much as fifty percent due to its high antioxidant content.

Olive oil in early studies have shown that in it aide in fighting a cancer gene that is liable for twenty-five to thirty percent of all breast cancer cases. This monounsaturated fat aides in the suppression of tumor activity and it is the only added fat that has never been linked to increased risk of cancer.

Turmeric has been discovered to decrease estrogen and can block cancer causing toxins. Researchers have discovered has aided in stopping metastasis of breast cancer cells to the lungs in mice. One teaspoon daily has been shown in the reduction of tumor growth. You can get it as a supplement or mix the powder form into salads for a daily dose.

Researchers from the Jonsson Cancer Centre at the University of California, Los Angeles, have found that curcumin, the major component in the spice turmeric, when combined with the drug Cisplatin, enhances chemotherapy's suppression of head and neck cancer cell growth.

In India, women for years have been using turmeric for medicinal purposes, as an anti-ageing agent rubbed into their skin, to treat cramps during menstruation, as a poultice on the skin to promote wound healing, andan additive in cosmetics, said scientist Eri Srivatsan, an adjunct professor of surgery.

Srivatsan, lead author of the study along with Dr Marilene Wang, a professor of head and neck surgery, has been studying curcumin and its anti-cancer properties for six years.

A 2005 study by Wang and Srivatsan first showed that curcumin suppressed the growth of head and neck cancer cells, first in cells and then in mouse models.

In the animal studies, the curcumin was applied directly onto the tumours in paste form because it did not dissolve in saline, which would have allowed it to be injected.

In need of a better way to deliver the curcumin, the team collaborated with Dr Kapil Mehta of MD Anderson Cancer Centre and found that encapsulating the curcumin in a liposome, an artificially prepared vehicle that enclosed the spice component within its membrane, made the treatment injectable.

The curcumin was injected into the tail vein of a mouse, from where it circulated into the blood stream, slowing down and eventually stopping the cancer, a study in 2008 found.

"This was a very positive finding, developing an efficient way to deliver the treatment," Wang said. "Our study also showed that the curcumin was very well tolerated."

In the study, the team wanted to combine the curcumin with the chemotherapeutic drug Cisplatin, which is very toxic at the doses needed to fight head and neck cancers, damaging kidneys, the ears, and the bone marrow.

They hoped that if they added curcumin to the mix, they might be able to lower the Cisplatin dose and cause less organ damage. Their finding, that the curcumin made the Cisplatin work better, was very promising, Wang said.

"We knew that both the curcumin and the Cisplatin, when given alone, had an effect against head and neck cancers. This finding that curcumin enhances Cisplatin means that, in the future, we may be able to give this chemotherapy in lower doses," Wang said.

The study found that curcumin suppressed head and neck cancer by regulating cell cycling, Srivatsan said.

It binds to an enzyme and prevents the enzyme IKK, an inhibitor of kappa ß kinase, from activating as a transcription factor called nuclear factor kappa ß (NFκß), which promotes cancer.

Cisplatin's suppressive action involves a different pathway through the tumour suppressor proteins p16 and p53, that again inhibit the activity of cancer growth promoter (NFκß).

The study noted that the mechanisms of the two agents through different growth signalling pathways suggest potential for the clinical use of sub-therapeutic doses of Cisplatin in combination with curcumin, which will allow effective suppression of tumour growth while minimising the toxic side effects.

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